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An honest review … The Big Mouth

August 2, 2018, Author: Hello Joburg

The Big Mouth is on everyone’s radar at the moment, so I thought to pay them a visit and see what all the hype was about. The word on the street is that they serve the best sushi in the city. I’ll be the judge of that.

Whether you’re into sunny patios, white marble sushi bars, glittering walls or contemporary design by Studio Parkington in conjunction with Thought Fox Creative, this impeccable space has got you covered! Situated in the greatest location in Johannesburg, Nelson Mandela Square, this eatery is where Jozi’s elite schmoozes. Put it this way if I spotted Cyril having brunch here after his morning walk, I wouldn’t be surprised. It’s swanky and sophisticated and yip you guessed it slightly over pretentious.

The menu pulls out all the stops. Not only do they serve sushi, but they also refer to themselves as a grill. They offer poke bowls, soups, buns, tacos, pans and small plates (I almost choked on my tempura biltong when I saw the prices though – most small plates are around the R68 mark heading up to R125). The staff is well rehearsed and authentically friendly, and the managers generously offer their advice as what to order from the extensive menu. Helpful indeed but just be careful as many items have the dreaded SQ.

Lunch began with a small bowl of edamame beans. Just a side note, Woolworths sells their edamame beans (400g) for R54.99 whilst a small plate of edamame at Big Mouth is R68. Were they the best edamame beans ever? No.

The Crispy Rice signature sushi is a non-negotiable order (R103 for four pieces). These spicy salmon crispy rice squared pillows are melt-in-your-mouth delicious with blow your mind kinda flavour. Be warned if you’re more of an authentic Japanese sushi, zero bells and whistles kinda guy then this isn’t the spot for you. Their sushi is loaded with caviar and mayo and is decadently deep-fried, crisped up and pickled.

For mains, overwhelmed by the options, a humble choice of fish and chips sounded perfect- decadently tasty and finely prepared with chips that were a perfect accompaniment.

They have a comprehensive cocktail and wine menu, which will keep everyone blissfully content. We recommend throwing in the Litchi It to Me cocktail because after guzzling down all those calories you’ll need something light and refreshing.

P.S This spot is faultless when it comes to an indulgent cheat day because they serve deep-fried Oreos with a glass of milk on the side. It’s a childhood celebration on a plate and is reason enough to visit, just make sure it’s after payday.

Hello Joburg was first published in April 1980 as a monthly restaurant and entertainment magazine. Over the years we have developed a network of patriotic Joburgers that love nothing more than sharing their experiences in this beautiful city!